Kendrick Lamar Picked Up His Pulitzer Yesterday

May 31, 2018

Kendrick Lamar picked up his Pulitzer Prize for Music yesterday at Columbia University in New York.

Columbia President Lee Bollinger called Kendrick’s “Damn” album a, “virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.”

Kendrick didn’t speak as he accepted the award, because that’s not how the Pulitzers roll.

But the ceremony was broadcast live on Facebook, and after it was over, he was asked how it felt to receive the award. He said, “It’s an honor. Been writing my whole life, so to get this type of recognition, it’s beautiful.”

(Check out the ceremony here. Skip to about 52 minutes in to see Kendrick get his prize. At about 55 minutes, you can hear his comments…and watch him take a selfie with Don Lemon from CNN.)